Hero daughter saves mother's life after she suffered a life-threatening stroke in Edinburgh home

A daughter whose quick reaction saves her mother’s life after she suffered a stroke is educating others on how to spot the life-threatening medical condition.

Hero daughter Jade Fortune was "so scared" when she found her mother Carole Fortune lying on her bedroom floor in Edinburgh.

When 24-year-old Jade Fortune found her mother Carole lying on her bedroom floor in Edinburgh she knew she had suffered a stroke.

The 56-year-old’s face was drooping and she had no feeling in her left arm or leg which Jade recognised immediately as tell-tale signs of a stroke.

Jade called an ambulance and her beauty therapist mother was blue lighted to hospital where she received emergency medical treatment to dissolve a blood clot.

Thanks to the quick actions the impact of her mum’s stroke was kept to a minimum and Carole has recovered well.

Remembering the shocking moment her world changed forever the grateful mother said that without Jade she does not know what her fate would have been.

She said: “My life changed forever when I had a stroke last year. I woke up on the bedroom floor and couldn’t push myself up.

“At first, I thought it was because I had overdone it in the gym the night before but I knew there was something seriously wrong when I had no feeling in my left arm and leg, so I shouted for my daughter Jade who thankfully was in the house.”

Hearing the panic-filled shout and knowing something serious must have happened the concerned daughter rushed to her mother's side.

Jade said: “When I heard my mum shout for me that morning, I ran through, I could see her lying on the floor beside her bed and immediately noticed the left side of her face had drooped. I knew exactly what was happening and that I needed to get an ambulance urgently.

“I was so scared, but I knew getting her to the hospital as soon as possible would get her the help she needed.”

While Carole has recovered well since her shock collapse in 2019 she knows the outcome could have been very different.

Each day in Scotland 25 people suffer a stroke and must receive medical attention immediately to mitigate any lasting damage and potential fatality.

Jade and Carole know that time matters with strokes which is why they have joined with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland to make sure every person knows how to react fast if they witness someone suffering a stroke.

Ahead of World Stroke Day tomorrow the charity has created a simple acronym, FAST, to remind people of the key signs of a stroke:

FACE – Can the person smile, does one side of their face droop?

ARM – Can they lift both arms? Is one weak?

SPEECH – Is their speech slurred or muddled?

TIME – If these symptoms are present, call 999

Chief Executive at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland Jane-Claire Judson, said: “It is vital that we are all aware of the signs and symptoms of stroke and phone 999 immediately if someone needs urgent medical attention. These symptoms aren’t something for deliberation, if you see these signs, you must act FAST and save a life.”

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